This April, National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Healthy Communities of Clinton County joins Prevent Child Abuse Indiana in reinforcing the role that each
person plays ensuring that children, families and entire communities thrive by participating in the month-long nationwide campaign: “Everyone Can Make Great Childhoods Happen—Especially You, Especially Now!”
In 1983, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed April to be the first National Child Abuse Prevention Month (CAP Month), a tradition that continues to this day. April is a time to help people across the country understand that safe, stable and nurturing relationships and environments are necessary to ensure that children grow up happy and healthy. You don’t have to be a movie star or a professional athlete…all you need is a desire to make a difference.
Equally important is recognizing that the time to act is now. COVID-19 has made life difficult for everyone — especially children and families. Although the risk to our children’s physical health from the outbreak itself appears to be low, the risk to our nation’s children for experiencing child abuse and
neglect in times of extreme stress and uncertainty is actually quite high.
School and workplace closings can increase stress in parents’ lives, resulting from loss of income due to lack of paid leave; an unexpected or irregular need for childcare and even food insecurity, when school meal programs and other valuable resources become unavailable. Additionally, an unintended consequence of social distancing is isolation, which contradicts science proving that social and emotional connectedness and support are protective of mental health and positive discipline strategies.
Prevent Child Abuse recommends the following ways to help raise awareness and impact positive change virtually during this year’s CAP Month:
• Show support for children and families by wearing blue and posting a picture or video of yourself on your favorite social media channel(s) and including the #WearBlueDay2020 & #BeAConnection hashtag.
• Let your representatives know you support family friendly policies, such as paid sick and family leave, that help reduce stress on parents and caregivers by participating in Prevent Child Abuse America’s nationwide Digital Advocacy Day, on Tuesday, April 28.
• Follow Prevent Child Abuse NC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn and share our posts widely — and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Use the hashtags #GreatChildhoods and #BeAConnection to let us know you’re committed to helping children, families, and entire communities to thrive.
For more ways to get involved in Child Abuse Prevention Month, please visit www.preventchildabusenc.org